Meeting Between Arab League, Libyan Delegation Fails

Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord take a position during clashes with forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar south of Tripoli. AFP file photo
Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord take a position during clashes with forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar south of Tripoli. AFP file photo
TT

Meeting Between Arab League, Libyan Delegation Fails

Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord take a position during clashes with forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar south of Tripoli. AFP file photo
Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord take a position during clashes with forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar south of Tripoli. AFP file photo

A meeting held in Cairo on Sunday between a number of Libyan lawmakers and the Arab League General Secretariat failed to produce any results after the visiting delegation rejected the organization’s support for the Skhirat agreement.

Arab diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the MPs said the parliament, which has been elected by the people, should be considered a legitimate institution and not a “trusteeship” council imposed by the international community, in reference to the Presidential Council in Tripoli.

A League Secretariat source “regretted what some members did upon their arrival at the headquarters,” saying it was clear that a number of deputies deliberately wanted for the meeting to fail.

“The League is doing its best to reach a peaceful and consensual solution for the Libyan crisis,” asserted the source.

The Libyan parliament delegation arrived in Cairo two days ago and met with the Egyptian National Committee on Libya, which includes representatives from most Egyptian “sovereign” sides.

The meetings are part of a series of talks hosted in Cairo to bring together different Libyan parties for the sake of achieving stability and security in the war-torn state. The committee invited around 80 Libyan lawmakers representing the country’s west, south and east.

The committee's discussions aim to unify Libyan powers, and consolidate the Libyan Parliament’s role in restructuring the country.



Sudanese Army Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Darfur

Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
TT

Sudanese Army Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Darfur

Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)

More than 60 people have been killed and over 250 injured in airstrikes by the Sudanese military on the town of Kouma in North Darfur. This incident is being described by observers as one of the “largest massacres” of civilians since the conflict began.

Dozens more have died in separate attacks targeting the areas of Meilit, Wad Abu Saleh, and Um Duwain in Khartoum, with increasing calls for a ban on military flights by the Sudanese army.

Witnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that the military targeted Kouma’s market on Friday morning, dropping explosive barrels that caused widespread destruction. Many victims were shopping at the bustling “Friday market,” and the death toll is expected to rise due to a lack of medical care for the injured.

The attacks are viewed as deliberate assaults on civilians, particularly since there were no Rapid Support Forces (RSF) present in the crowded market. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with bodies scattered throughout the area.

In Meilit, airstrikes also targeted a wedding celebration, killing about 13 people and injuring others. Activists and eyewitnesses deny the presence of the RSF in these locations, despite military claims that air operations are directed at them.

Political and human rights groups have condemned the escalating airstrikes and called for an immediate ban on military flights in Darfur.

The Civil Democratic Forces Coordination (Tagadum) stated that the Kouma market attack was a severe violation against civilians, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.

The group expressed concern about ongoing violations against civilians in Sudan and highlighted the need for international attention to protect innocent lives. They urged the warring parties to cease hostilities and engage in negotiations to end the conflict.